Virtue #7 – Ask Questions & Love Skeptics – 8 Short Verses

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Virtue #7 – Ask Questions & Love Skeptics – 8 Short Verses

Curiosity and skepticism are closely related. God is fine with skepticism in the sense of genuine, sincere questioning.

Here’s the great news: God is fine with skepticism in the sense of genuine, sincere questioning. When Thomas doubted Jesus was really back from the dead, Jesus neither rejected nor berated Thomas. Instead, Jesus said intimately welcomed him, “Thomas, I understand why you have doubts. Put your hands in my wounds (wow!) so your experience with Me will transform your relationship with Me in a way that you can never doubt.” God welcomes our wonders and our worries and invites us into life-changing, faith-changing experiences.

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Virtue #5 – Giving Generously – 10 Short Scripture Readings

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Virtue #5 – Giving Generously – 10 Short Scripture Readings

As Christians, we commit to “faithfully participate in the ministries of the Church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified” (Methodist membership vows).

Elevating the practice of giving means we live into the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12): We will give our time, our talents, and our treasures so that the hungry will have food, the naked will have clothes, the homeless will have shelter, the lonely will have friends, the sick will have care, and so on.

As we co-labor with God to love and serve others, let’s keep asking, “How can we elevate our giving – in all its many forms – so that more people can experience the joy, the peace, and the excitement of God’s Kingdom?”

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Virtue #4 – Reaching Out to Others – 4 Scripture Readings

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Virtue #4 – Reaching Out to Others – 4 Scripture Readings

The fourth virtue is that flourishing churches relentlessly work to connect with and welcome others into their church families. They do this, not to benefit themselves, but as an effort to love God by loving others. Flourishing churches have rediscovered what’s great about the Good News of God’s love. Their personal experiences of that Good News in their own lives drives them, compels them to share their faith, hope, and love with others and invite others to experience God’s love for themselves.

When we reach out to others with sympathy rather than lectures... with empathy rather than judgement... with compassion rather than referrals... that’s when hearts and conversational doors open, and we can most effectively share the joy of having a personal, loving relationship with God. When we share the Good News, the GREAT News of God’s love in such a compassionate, personal way, people will feel genuinely welcomed into the Kingdom of God, a place of rest, healing, growth, and peace... a place of shalom.

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Virtue #6: Teamwork – 4 Scripture Readings

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Virtue #6: Teamwork – 4 Scripture Readings

If you need me – or any of our members, especially our Church Council members – to stop being “productive” and start being compassionate, from now on, all you have to do is tell me or text me, “Charles, I need 40 seconds.” And I will do the same with many of you when I need a moment of compassion for myself. Why? Because life happens and we ALL need to hear and feel God’s love.

Yes, the “business operations” of our church are important. But we, each one of us, are more important than any activity, event, decoration, song, or well-researched Sunday message. We, all of us, ARE the organic, living, “Body of Christ,” the love of God made real to ourselves and to each other. Compassion is what holds us together in the Kingdom of God. And compassion is how we, working together as a selfless, coordinated team will transform individuals, families, and organizations throughout our community.

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Virtue #3: Flourishing Churches Love the Local – Nehemiah 2, 4, and 6

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Virtue #3: Flourishing Churches Love the Local – Nehemiah 2, 4, and 6

Our buildings and our relationships with God, with ourselves, and with each other require regular maintenance. While the ancient Israelites needed to build walls to ensure their safety, today we need to continue the Methodist tradition of social justice work that tears down walls of prejudice and phobias that lead to fear, exclusion, and oppression.

If we look at the success of our own HOPE Food Pantry as well as how that success has led to new connections, new relationships, and new opportunities, I think you can all agree, “Only one possible conclusion can be drawn... God has been working beside us all along.” God continues miraculously working beside us as we share with others what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God, part of the family we love, the family we call our church.

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Virtue #2: Flourishing Churches Integrate New People – Ruth 1:16–17 and Matt. 4:18–22, 25:31-40

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Virtue #2: Flourishing Churches Integrate New People – Ruth 1:16–17 and Matt. 4:18–22, 25:31-40

Virtue #2 is integration. Flourishing churches quickly integrate new people into the life of the church. Churches flourish when they are personal – when they have a genuine interest in and compassion for each other.

Integrating people into the LIFE of our church family means welcoming them into our family, ensuring they feel welcomed, and finding places where their talents and interests become interwoven with our church life. Integrating people means we flourish together. We include others by loving them. We include others as an expression of how each of us feels loved by God. And we include others as an act of worship by letting God’s love, grace, and mercy for them flow through us.

The Good News of God’s love for us is that all of us – with our great diversity of talents, interests, and wisdom – we are ALL welcomed into and needed in the Kingdom of God. THAT is Good News the world needs to hear.

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Virtue #1: Flourishing Churches Believe in Miracles and Act Accordingly – Exodus 14:21-31, Acts 2:42-43

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Virtue #1: Flourishing Churches Believe in Miracles and Act Accordingly – Exodus 14:21-31, Acts 2:42-43

Virtue # 1 is a belief in miracles. Flourishing churches believe that God has worked in the life of their church in miraculous ways, they celebrate how God is currently working in miraculous ways, and they act in a way that expects God will continue blessing and guiding them in ways they cannot anticipate or explain.

“Acting as if we believe that the Holy Spirit is up to something in our midst is the single greatest game-changing decision a church leadership team [or a Christian] can make.” (Eight Virtues, Kindle 214).

Let’s name our wants, our concerns, our joys and burdens. Let’s discuss these. Let’s pray about these so that God can lead us and give us wisdom that may cause us to adjust our wants and our prayers. And when God answers our prayers, let us act in faith, receive the miraculous blessings God sends us, and celebrate God moving among and through us.

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Micah 6:6-8 – Justice, Loving Kindness, Humility

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Micah 6:6-8 – Justice, Loving Kindness, Humility

What does it mean for us today to live out our faith walking hand-in-hand with a God who wants us to seek justice, show “loving-kindness,” and remain humble? Inspired by this, our daily prayer might be, “Lord, show me where and when I can nurture justice by fighting wrongs and healing wounds. Show me every opportunity to plant seeds of loving kindness, even if it’s just a smile or a few encouraging words. And help me feel you walking with me today.”

If anyone asks you, “What is God’s plan for us? What does God want me to do?” the answer is simple, personal, and open-ended: humbly walk with God while you seek justice and show “loving-kindness.” If we do this, we will find ourselves welcoming others into the place of healing and wholeness that we call the Kingdom of God.

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Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and Luke 2:1-20 – Christmas Eve: Peace

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Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 and Luke 2:1-20 – Christmas Eve: Peace

The story of Christmas, the message of Christmas IS the Good News that God loves us SO MUCH that God would make Himself into flesh so that God could walk and talk and eat and laugh and cry with us... that Christmas story and that Good News continues throughout the year when we allow God’s Spirit to fill us, to lead us, and to act through us.

Christmas has become a season obsessed with gift-giving. This year, I encourage you to look beyond the ribbons, and bows, and wrapping paper... celebrate the moments and spaces of peace in your life. And look for opportunities to share peace with your family and friends. When we do so, we will live into the beautiful lyrics, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

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Luke 3:2b-16 – The Advent of JOY, "Jesus is coming. Look busy!"

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Luke 3:2b-16 – The Advent of JOY, "Jesus is coming. Look busy!"

Jesus calls us to a more personal, more immediate, and more intimate expression of sacrifice. When we share with others, we are worshiping; we are thanking God for what we have AND for the opportunity to bless others.

Putting our faith into action is a critical part of a healthy, functioning spiritual life. As someone in our Bible Study asked, “What outward expressions would be worthy of the change we’ve felt inside of us?”

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Luke 1:26-45 – The Advent of LOVE

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Luke 1:26-45 – The Advent of LOVE

Today’s Advent theme is love, and trust is certainly a huge part of any loving relationship. Through love, trust is able to overcome fear. Mary was too young, and Elizabeth was too old to birth new life. Yet, as an expression of their love for God, they both trusted God’s leading, miracles occurred, and their lives – and the world – were forever changed.

God called Elizabeth and Mary into co-creating the future. Of all the people alive, the Creator of the Universe said, “I want YOU, I pick YOU to help me do something new that will play a pivotal role in changing the world.” God calls out to us, today, in the same way.

During this Advent season, let us all follow Elizabeth and Mary, letting our love of God lead us into trusting God even more as we work with God and with each other to nurture what we already have while we seek new ways to birth the Kingdom of God into our community.

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Luke 1:57-80 – The Advent of PEACE, Shalom

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Luke 1:57-80 – The Advent of PEACE, Shalom

Christmas is truly the season of looking forward to new additions to our lives that arrive as unearned gifts from others. In a nation torn apart by politics, in a community still staggering from the blows of economic challenges and wildfire recovery, in a culture that tells us we always need to have more and be more... Peace, Shalom, may be the greatest gift of all this year.

Remember, the word peace we’re using today is our translation of the Hebrew word Shalom – a word that includes the concepts of being in a state of wholeness, completeness in our relationships with God, with ourselves, and with each other. This is far deeper, far more encompassing than “have a nice day.”

Thankfully, God offers us a never-ending supply of peace, shalom, if we simply accept and participate in that gift of peace. Every day, we have opportunities to re-gift that shalom to others so they can benefit as well. During this Christmas / Advent season, I encourage you to gift and re-gift shalom freely and with wild abandon... to yourself, your families, your coworkers, your classmates, and anyone else you meet.

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

Our loving God wants nothing more than for us to run into His arms with the love and trust of a little child. And that, that is the hope we have in our relationship with God. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Having hope requires effort and determination on our part.

No matter what we have done or what we have failed to do, God is always with us, always ready to forgive us, to mend our hearts and souls, and to teach us so that we don’t repeat the errors of our past, but instead, better follow God’s leading in our lives. In this season of Advent, we too expectantly wait for God, hoping and trusting that God will help us sense God’s life-giving presence in and among us.

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Where is God? – God’s Nature: Location

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Where is God? – God’s Nature: Location

If you’ve ever prayed with a young child, they may have asked you, “Who are you praying to?” When you answer, “God” a likely follow-up question is, “Where is this God you’re praying to?” Great question! Today we’re going to address a specific aspect of God’s nature: location. Where is God – far away, nearby, or within us?

Our understanding of God’s location consciously – or more often subconsciously – plays a major role in how we treat ourselves and others as well as how we understand and deal with life’s major questions and events (ex: birth, death, tragedies, etc).

So today, we’ll look at several major schools of thought regarding where God is. FYI, each belief paradigm is supported by Bible verses as well as theologians with PhDs, so no matter what you personally think about God, know that there are many incredibly smart, educated, compassionate people who agree with you.

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John 20 – The Breath of Life

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John 20 – The Breath of Life

Jesus shared His life-giving breath with the surprised, confused, and perhaps terrified disciples in that locked room. Recalling God breathing the breath of life into the first humans (Genesis 2:7), Jesus literally breathed His active, resurrected, life-giving breath into the disciples so that His life force – the Holy Spirit – would be in them. As an act of intense love, Jesus gave them “Spiritual CPR” so that they could, in turn, be empowered to go out and give this new life to others.

Equipped with God’s mysterious presence within them, Jesus sent the disciples out of their protective, locked rooms so that they could share the Good News of God’s love. As Jesus’ disciples today, God is asking us, urging us, drawing us to GO into a hungry, hurting world with the best news of all: the Creator of the Universe created you, knows you, loves you, and welcomes you into the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom of peace.

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John 17 – One Last Prayer / Knowing God

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John 17 – One Last Prayer / Knowing God

Jesus does not describe eternal life as knowing about God, but actually knowing God. So how do we do that? How do we personally “know” the Creator of the Universe?!? We start by having interactions with God. So how do we do that?!? Everyone has their own path, their own journey.

Eternal life – being in relationship with God – and “becoming holy” are blessings we can enjoy now AND look forward to enjoying in new, different, and greater ways in the future. Eternal life is a way of living in love and in hope with ourselves and with others. It is part of what Jesus meant when He said “the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The Kingdom of Heaven is near indeed and there is plenty of room for everyone!

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John 16 – Joy?? We Don’t Understand

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John 16 – Joy?? We Don’t Understand

Like Jesus modeled for the disciples, we need to acknowledge and deal with the past and present stresses and traumas in our lives WHILE we look to our future. Often that’s easier said than done... which is why we believe it is so important to be connected with God and each other in our faith community – our church family.

We don’t have to wait until we die to experience the Kingdom of God. Every single moment that we are able to love God, love ourselves, and love others, we make the Kingdom of God real, we make it practical, and we make it personal. This was and is the Good News Jesus and His disciples proclaimed. And this continues to be the Good News for us, for our families, and for our community.

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John 15 – Vine & Branches

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John 15 – Vine & Branches

Twice in today’s reading Jesus says very clearly, “Love each other like I have loved you.” That’s the core, the essential message of Jesus’ life and ministry. And how did He love his followers? He embraced them as they were, He built relationships with them, and He nurtured them so they could become more of who God created them to be: mature people able to love others more than they could image was possible.

Opening ourselves to new growth is how the Kingdom of God naturally expands within us and through us. This is one way we continually become new creations through our faith. This is how we, and our community, are transformed from who and what we are into the potential God has placed within each of us. May we all embrace and celebrate our pruning.

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John 14 – Trust Me

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John 14 – Trust Me

Today’s chapter opens with the words, “Do not get lost in despair; trust in God, and keep on trusting in Me.” These days it seems all too easy to get lost in despair. Whether it’s politics, medical issues, economics, or our relationships with each other, despair seems to rear its gloomy head far too frequently. But Jesus’ specific words – and more importantly, His overall message – are clear: don’t get lost in despair; don’t let despair consume you.

Someone in our Bible Study group pointed out, “if God is in us, then we can do great things by allowing God to act through us.” Exactly. That may be the single best understanding of that verse I’ve ever heard. AND that presents us with a profound challenge: ARE we and HOW are we allowing God to act through us? For us to live into this verse, we must 1) maintain our relationship with God, 2) remain alert for how God may be leading us, and 3) follow God’s leading with the confidence that comes through trusting a loving God.

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John 13 – Washing Feet / Communion at a Small Country Church

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John 13 – Washing Feet / Communion at a Small Country Church

The disciple Peter plays a prominent role in today’s story. He is almost comically imperfect as he responds to Jesus’ expression of love – first by saying he wants none of this, then saying he wants it all, and later overestimates his loyalty to Jesus. It’s easy to criticize Peter’s lack of understanding and allegiance. But as someone said, “Peter is there to give the rest of us mere mortals courage.”

During this service, we celebrated Holy Communion. The next time you participate in this ancient, sacred sacrament, I urge you to pray, “Lord, what would you like to share with me through today’s bread and juice?”

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